Pandemic Poses Potential Re-Entry Problems for Lawful Permanent Residents Abroad
By: BrownWinick | 05.03.2021
We are now several weeks beyond the one-year anniversary of the declaration by the World Health Organization recognizing COVID-19 as a global pandemic. While historic vaccine rollout accelerates across the United States, worldwide vaccine distribution efforts display inequities elsewhere. Moreover, travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantine orders and reluctant travelers remain commonplace. These barriers create certain Read…
NLRB Acting General Counsel Calls for “Vigorous Enforcement” and Expansion of Employee Protections
By: Nate Borland | 04.15.2021
On March 31, 2021, Peter Sung Ohr, the Acting General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), issued a memorandum calling for the “vigorous enforcement” of employee protections under the National Labor Relations Act. The memorandum forecasts a significant shift in strategy for the NLRB’s policing of employee relations in union and non-union businesses, taking a more Read…
Don’t Jump the Gun on COVID-19 Recovery: Employers and Business Owners Should Review OSHA Compliance
By: Benjamin Merrill | 03.24.2021
In February, a U.S. House sub-committee launched an investigation into how major meat processors and OSHA responded to COVID-19. During the prior administration, OSHA issued only eight COVID-related citations. With a new administration in charge, we anticipate renewed energy and enforcement from OSHA in the coming year. Employers should make a conscious effort to Read…
IWD Adopts New Rule in Response to COVID-19 and the Federal CARES Act
By: Casey Alesch | 03.23.2021
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) has adopted a new rule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the federal CARES Act that requires employers to notify their employees of the availability of unemployment insurance upon separation or a reduction of hours. Prior to the emergency enactment of this new rule in August of 2020, Iowa employers were required to post notices or Read…
H-1B Cap Season FY 2022: Are we Already Seeing Influence from the Biden Administration?
By: BrownWinick | 02.12.2021
One thing to be said about the former Trump Administration is that change was constant. That was especially true in the context of immigration. Although the outgoing Administration sought to have influence over the FY 2022 H-1B season by implementing a wage-based selection process through last-minute rule changes, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Read…
Court Grants Motion for Summary Judgment
By: BrownWinick | 01.18.2021
BrownWinick attorneys Michael Dee and Megan Moritz recently succeeded on a motion asking the court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against its clients, a small floral business, and the business’s owner. The plaintiff, a former employee, sued in state court, making claims of sexual harassment and constructive discharge in violation of the Iowa Civil Rights Read…
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Changes You Should Know
By: BrownWinick | 09.14.2020
A decision out of New York prompted the Department of Labor (DOL) to issue a revised rule on the FFCRA which is scheduled to take effect 9/16/2020. The revisions cover five main areas: The Department reaffirms that paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave may be taken only if the employee has Read…
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
By: Danielle Smid | 08.27.2020
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are vital to the success of every business. Diversity and inclusion is a company’s mission, strategies, and practices to support a diverse workplace where individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life are able to participate and contribute comfortably and equally. Successful implementation will improve and enhance work experiences Read…
USCIS Conducts Second H-1B Lottery
By: BrownWinick | 08.24.2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has conducted a second H-1B lottery to select additional FY 2021 H-1B Cap cases. BrownWinick first reported the conclusion of the H-1B lottery selection in April; however, employers began to receive notifications of case selection late last week. This second lottery is in an effort to fill the Read…
Department of Homeland Security Issues Guidance on Exemptions to Travel Bans
By: BrownWinick |
The Department of Homeland Security has issued guidance on exemptions to travel bans, specifically detailing exemptions to Presidential Proclamations 10014 and 10052, which together suspend the entry of certain immigrant visa applicants, and foreign nationals who present a risk to the U.S. economic recovery efforts in the wake of COVID-19, until December 31, 2020 Read…